Last Call
Subtitle: Alcoholism and Recovery
Contributors: Paul R. McHugh (Foreword)
Edition: 1 edition
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: October 26, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 224
ISBN-13: 9780801886782
Subjects: Coping with drug & alcohol abuse; Drug Addiction (Psychiatric Aspects); Drug And Alcohol Abuse Treatment; Psychology; Medical / Nursing; Self-Help; General; Neurology - General; Substance Abuse & Addictions - Alcoholism; Twelve-Step Programs; Health & Fitness / General; Psychopathology - Addiction; Public Health; Alcoholism; Treatment; therapy
Description: "I knew about drunk, but did not know anything about living sober. I hadn't really been sober for fifteen years. It wasn't enough that I stopped drinking. I had to learn how to live." The journey from alcoholic insanity to sobriety, and the pivotal role of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in navigating that transition, is the focus of this book. It offers perspectives on how and why AA is the most effective alcoholism treatment program in the world. Through powerful first person narratives like the one above, composites of many anonymous speakers, the author provides compelling insights into the minds and hearts of addicted drinkers, from bizarre behavior and denial to the moment of "hitting bottom" and seeking change. He covers the process of getting sober, from diagnosis to detox to sobriety. Of particular focus is the long term challenge of learning to live sober, in which recovering alcoholics learn to solve problems and live life without alcohol. In meeting this long term challenge, the author asserts, regular participation in AA reaps the greatest benefits. His vivid descriptions reveal AA meetings as gatherings of fellowship, compassion, tears, and laughter. He relates the history of AA, describes the role of sponsors, and elaborates the Twelve Steps and the Promises. He emphasizes the importance of spiritual development in recovery and refutes the common misconceptions that equate spirituality with organized religion. By relating the stories of people who have escaped the tyranny of alcoholism with the help of AA, the author reveals the road to recovery as a journey of self discovery, change, and hope.